Maura Higgins has reportedly had her say on ex Pete Wick kissing his pal Olivia Attwood and the Irish star had a brutal response

Maura Higgins has been catching up with the news her ex Pete Wicks has shared a kiss with her ‘nemesis’ Olivia Attwood. A romance between Love Islander Maura, 35, and TOWIE’s Pete, 37, come to an end last year after a series of stormy rows, before they ever went public.

And now, sources close to the Irish beauty have said her ex growing closer to his pal is no surprise to her. Insiders says she had her suspicions during their time together and that Pete’s actions are “vindication” that her gut was right about him at the time.

But in a brutal response, she is said to have said Olivia can “have my sloppy seconds”. The insider added: “Maura is living her best life right now – she’s cracked America, Pete Wicks is the last thing on her mind.

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Speaking to The Sun, the source went on: “But she couldn’t resist a dig about how he took Olivia to the same place he took her. In her words, ‘That says it all’.”

Maura publicly called time on her spell with Pete as she left a Valentine’s dinner with friends at London’s Sheesh restaurant last year. When she was asked where Pete was, she bluntly replied: “Dunno. Probably out cheating.”

While Maura and Olivia are said to have bad blood in the past, with Olivia’s camp accusing Maura of trying to ‘copy’ her career. Both ladies have been trying to make waves in America after signing with the same agency Align PR.

Now it seems Olivia is going after Maura’s ex after her split from footballer Bradley Dack following less than three years of marriage. The sports star’s apparent actions are said to have led to the pair’s demise.

The footballer has been called out by her friends, who said his alleged cheating sparked the toxic split that is playing out in public.

And on Tuesday, amid her love life drama, Olivia, 34, posted a defiant selfie to Instagram and wrote: “And reading ‘hey girly’ texts on my break, gals come to the front today please and then I’m moving on with my life ty x.”

According to Urban Dictionary, if a text reads “hey girly” it is a “text you receive or send about a man cheating”.

It comes as pals told The Sun: “She [Olivia] was trying to respect their ten-year relationship by staying quiet, but her friends are bemused as to how Bradley is the one who caused all this, and Liv was still trying to protect him.”

But following images of Olivia and Pete’s kiss, sources close to Bradley say he is “livid”. Speaking to The Sun, a source claimed the footballer is “embarrassed” but “not surprised”.

“Bradley is livid, he’s not surprised at all but is completely embarrassed and upset,” they said. “He can’t believe Olivia has moved on so publicly and they’ve not even signed the divorce papers.

“Bradley was hopeful for a reunion with Olivia but after this, he’s just livid and will take her to the cleaners. She has been in the depths of a really horrible break-up and Pete has helped her through it. He’s suspected things for the past year but she’s always denied it.”

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This comes with a trial scheme running nine self-contained pods for some of the borough’s most vulnerable homeless people to sleep in ending.

The trial period ran between November last year to March 31 with Bolton Council saying that they managed to achieve their main objective in keeping rough sleepers safe over the winter.

Council cabinet member for adults and community housing Cllr Sean Fielding said: “I’m delighted that the Sleeper Pods have proved a safe haven for some of our most vulnerable people this winter, giving them renewed hope and a ‘stepping stone’ to rebuild their lives.

“There are far too many people that are homeless, and it can affect people from all backgrounds, especially those at risk of a sudden loss of income, rising inflation, relationship breakdowns, and domestic abuse.

The pods include self contained living spaces (Image: Billa Ahmed)

“However, Bolton is always on hand to provide targeted help in accessing shelter and accommodation when needed, helping people get back on track as quickly as possible.

“We are also working with landlords and owners of empty properties to offer them practical support, security and reassurance to provide more affordable housing for Bolton people in need.”

The nine self-contained sleeper pods were installed on a former car park at Higher Bridge Street and Topp Way, with 24-hour security and wraparound support in the site.

The scheme supported the council’s statutory obligation under the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol to protect vulnerable people during the coldest months.

The pods were designed as safe alternatives to rough sleeping, and to show that living independently in a secure, private, self-contained place is a real goal.

The council says that people staying in the pods have given testimonies saying: “It’s the first time I’ve been properly warm in years”.

Others have described them as “luxury in a box”, “a Godsend”, “life-changing”.

The council says it will be carrying out a final assessment of the scheme this summer and that this will inform its plans and decisions in the future.

They say that they are working to make sure that no one returns to living on the streets.

The council says people who have stayed in the pods have either moved into more permanent accommodation or are in the process of transferring to more specialist settings.

To do this the council has linked up with other specialist support organisations including the homeless nursing team, social workers, mental health, substance use and other agencies.

Together they say they have been continuing to provide support to the residents with the help they need after leaving the pods. 

The council says any decision on whether to reintroduce a Sleeper Pod scheme next Winter will be made after full review and discussions with these partners.

The council says Bolton’s ultimate aim is to tackle the causes of homelessness and stop it arising in the first place, and the pods are one of several initiatives in place to support this.

Nicole Carroll and Fiona Harris, from Hays Travel in Motherwell, abseiled off it earlier this month to raise money for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland. They were joined by Nicole’s friend, Jennifer Wilson, and Fiona’s partner, Jim Woods.

A pair of Motherwell travel agents have raised £1,590 for a Spina Bifida charity after abseiling off the Falkirk Wheel.

The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift in central Scotland, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.

Nicole Carroll and Fiona Harris, from Hays Travel in Motherwell, abseiled off it earlier this month to raise money for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland.

They were joined by Nicole’s friend, Jennifer Wilson, and Fiona’s partner, Jim Woods.

This is the second year that Hays Travel Motherwell have supported the charity, last year organising a fundraising ladies afternoon tea and raising £1,800. This year, they got a bit more adventurous with an abseil!

Motherwell Hays Travel assistant manager, Nicole Carroll, said: “We chose this charity as it’s very close to our family. My husband has Spina Bifida, and his mum has been actively involved with the charity for over 30 years.

“It was important to us to support an organisation that does so much for families and creates a real sense of community and support.”

Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland offer information, one-to-one support and groups for children and adults with Spina Bifida.

Andrew Flynn, of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, said: “The biggest thank you to our amazing abseilers who raised vital funds for SBH Scotland – you were all brilliant – together we really are unstoppable!

READ MORE: New report highlights progress that North Lanarkshire Council is improving across range of key areas

“If you want to take part in 2027, email fundraising@sbhscotland.org.uk.”

Hays Travel is the UK’s largest independent travel agent, with branches across the UK – all committed to supporting their customers and the local communities they serve.

Each Hays Travel branch is provided with a £500 budget to use for fundraising and charity work in their local area; £200 of this is to be used to fundraise for charities which support young people’s mental health, and the other £300 can be used for charities chosen by the branch.

In the last year, Hays Travel’s Local Community Partnership initiative across its retail network has donated almost £170,000 to local charities.

READ MORE: Steel strategy a boost for Motherwell’s Dalzell Steelworks

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The Iran war has deflected global attention from Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor Ukraine as Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II enters its fifth year and an emboldened Kremlin undertakes a spring offensive.

The past week showed that neither side is easing up. Russia on Tuesday fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukraine in one of the war’s biggest bombardments. The following day Ukraine launched almost 400 drones in the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions and Crimea.

Ukraine’s fate is still Europe’s top foreign policy issue, fueled by fears that Moscow has wider ambitions. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has wound down talks with Russian and Ukrainian delegations as the Iran war grips its attention. The administration has warned it could turn its back on the conflict if peace efforts come to nothing.

Russian takes in billions after US eases oil sanctions

Only weeks ago, the Russian economy was starting to feel the pinch of sanctions. But Russia is now raking in billions of dollars from a temporary U.S. waiver on oil sanctions against Moscow. The measure taken earlier this month aims to free up Russian oil cargo stranded at sea and ease supply shortages caused by the Middle East conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the U.S. move was “ not the right decision ” because it will further enable Russia’s military campaign.

American Patriot air-defense missiles have been moved from Europe toward the Middle East as Washington redirects resources to its war on Iran. Zelenskyy warned that Kyiv will “definitely” face shortages of Patriot systems because of the war against Iran.

The U.S. produces 60 to 65 missiles per month, or about 700 to 800 missiles per year, Zelenskyy said. “And on the first day in the Middle East war, 803 missiles were used,” he said.

Aiming to secure some geopolitical leverage, Ukraine offered its battle-tested technology to help Gulf states fend off Iranian drones. In return, Ukraine wants more of the high-end air-defense missiles that Gulf countries possess and which Kyiv needs to stop Russia’s missiles. Zelenskyy also made Ukrainian drone interceptors available to the U.S.

Ukraine desperately needs money, too. A promised 90-billion-euro ($104-billion) loan from the European Union to fund Ukraine’s armed forces and its war-shattered economy for the next two years is being held up by Hungary.

Fighting on the front line escalates as weather improves

After a winter of relative calm on the front line, Russia is gearing up for the summer fighting season as fields dry out.

Russian forces are in an early phase of a spring offensive, assaulting Ukraine’s eastern so-called Fortress Belt of cities, said Elina Beketova of the Center for European Policy Analysis, a Washington-based think tank.

“Over the past weeks, the Russians have intensified pressure on the battlefield and in the air,” she told The Associated Press. In Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, Ukraine’s industrial heartland long coveted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the situation is “critical,” she said, though Ukrainian troops say they are holding firm.

“Russia is trying, on the tactical level, some new approaches” with mechanized infantry and armor in its offensive, according to Robert Murrett, a retired vice admiral in the U.S. Navy who is deputy director of Syracuse University’s Institute for Security Policy and Law.

Fierce fighting is taking place along the roughly 1,250-kilometer (750-mile) front line snaking along eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, said this week.

Moscow’s forces have made only incremental gains across rural areas. Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine. That includes the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized in 2014.

Russian war bloggers expect a new Moscow effort to create more footholds in the southern Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. That would pave the way for a possible push toward those regions’ capital cities, which are key industrial hubs.

The Russian tactic is to surround and then choke cities while bombing them to rubble.

Russia bombards civilian areas, Ukraine targets Moscow’s war machine

After crushing Ukraine’s power grid during one of the worst winters in recent memory, Russian drone and missile barrages of civilian areas have continued unabated.

More than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the war, according to the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

For its part, Ukraine has developed long-range drones and missiles to hit targets in rear areas that keep Moscow’s war machine going. The targets have included oil refineries, chemical plants, ammunition depots and military logistics hubs up to 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) from Ukraine.

US-led talks are on ice and making little progress

Washington’s peace efforts are largely on hold while the White House is “totally distracted by Iran,” Murrett said.

Months of U.S.-mediated talks between delegations from Moscow and Kyiv have produced no breakthrough on the knottiest problems, such as who keeps Ukrainian territory and how to prevent future Russian invasions.

Russia has rejected Ukraine’s offer of a ceasefire. European leaders have accused Putin of stalling in peace efforts while his army tries to capture more Ukrainian land.

The Kremlin has “never come off (its) maximalist demands” for a settlement, and it would take “overwhelming” Western military and financial support for Ukraine for Putin to back down, Murrett said.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

St Mary’s Cockerton CE Primary School, on Newton Lane in Cockerton, has been shut to pupils today (Thursday, March 26) following the incident overnight.

The burst pipe has caused a “significant flood” in the school, with the site saying it has had to turn off the water until the issue is resolved.

Darlington Borough Council confirmed the early closure in an email.

It is not yet known when the school will reopen, with parents told to expect updates soon.

It comes just three months after the school was forced to close due to a major plumbing issue that left the site without working toilets.

The school said: “Following a significant flood due to a burst pipe in school overnight, school will not be open today as we have had to turn the water off until we can resolve the issue.

“We will provide updates as soon as we can. Please pass this message on.

“Apologies for the inconvenience this will cause.”

Emmerdale star Lisa Riley, who is best known for her role as Mandy Dingle in the ITV soap, shared snaps of herself with her arm in a sling after suffering a ‘very bad fall’

Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley has revealed her hospital dash after suffering a ‘very bad fall’ over the weekend.

The Mandy Dingle actress, 49, shared snaps of herself in hospital to share the news with her followers on Instagram last night. One image saw Lisa, who recently broke down in tears over the death of her pal, wearing a hospital gown and smiling next to a surgeon while the other showed Lisa’s arm in a sling while she wore a black top and trousers along with a red hoodie.

Lisa then explained that she had suffered a bad fall on a breakfast stool which caused her to injure the UCL in her thumb (Ulnar Collateral Ligament), which required her to undergo surgery. An injury to the UCL in the thumb usually means the ligament is torn and requires four to six weeks in a splint for a partial tear, however complete tears require surgery.

READ MORE: Emmerdale star teases triple prison exit as damning confession changes everythingREAD MORE: Lisa Riley reveals key to her inspirational weight loss after I’m A Celeb star shed 12 stone

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As she posted the photos on her Instagram story, she gushed over the NHS and the specialist surgeon who treated her. Lisa wrote: “OUR NHS @nhsengland IS INCREDIBLE…” Lisa added a trio of yellow heart emojis before continuing: “I have to massively thank my specialist surgeon Mr Daniel Thornton at LGI LEEDS hospital and all the beautiful team, every since one of you who treated me this afternoon – I had a very bad fall over the weekend (no I’m sober) no drunk jokes – it was my extremely slippy breakfast stool and a woollen cardi – my left thumb took all of it – so today hence the massive damage I have had my operation, surgery, treating my UCL in my Thumb repaired.”

She continued: “”£NHS at it’s absolute best – bye for now I have some fantastic pain relief to take #surgery #leeds #hospital #thumb”. Lisa also shared the post on her main Instagram grid, in which she was flooded with well wishes from her followers.

Scarlett Moffatt wrote: “Sending love chick xxxx”. While Steph McGovern added: “Oh no!! Sending love xx”. Meanwhile fans also chimed in as one wrote: “Oh no!!! Hope you feel better soon!! (least you get out of washing up! )Xx”. Another added: “Get well soon lovely xxx”. And a third said: “Oh no hope you heal quickly and your pain is manageable”.

Lisa rose to fame on Emmerdale in 1995, when she first took on the role of Mandy Dingle. She’s remained a stalwart on the ITV soap since.

She took part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here in 2025, which saw her voted out in a double elimination. During her time in the camp, she lost 1.5st, which she admitted caused chaos for the soap.

With the dramatic weight loss, the star was aided by the costume department who began lining her outfits before she appeared on set. Lisa told The Sun: “I am wearing layers and layers on set.

“I like Mandy to be curvy. I am embracing it. Because it has been freezing cold when we are outside in the village filming, I have had two hot water bottles on my bum. So, Mandy’s bum might look bigger when people tune in on Tuesday, too.” She added: “I am proud of how much weight I lost on I’m A Celebrity. I feel amazing.” Her update comes after Lisa previously told The Mirror that she began losing weight long before she joined the I’m A Celeb cast after ditching alcohol.

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Jeremy Savory, also known as the Millionaire Migrant, has left Dubai after 18 years citing school holiday changes as a major reason alongside geopolitical concerns in the Middle East

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A British man has shared his reasons for leaving Dubai – and it’s not due to the conflict in the Middle East. Jeremy Savory, known on the internet as the Millionaire Migrant, swapped life in Southwest London for Dubai at the age of 28. Over the past twenty years, he claims to have visited over 100 countries and established a property empire while residing in the Gulf city.

However, in a YouTube video, he disclosed that he has now departed from the region, reports the Mirror. This comes as warfare persists in the Middle East, with US President Donald Trump accusing Iran of being “afraid” of peace negotiations. The United Arab Emirates, on the other hand, stated it continues to intercept Israeli drones flying over its airspace.

Jeremy has advised those living in Dubai to ensure they stay “ahead of any geopolitical turmoil” in the area. In a video, he stated: “You’ll have seen in the news, a lot of scary stuff, particularly on Saturday morning, we had already decided to make a move on Friday.”

Jeremy, who assists affluent businesspeople in relocating, says a significant factor in his decision to move was the rescheduling of the school holidays by a week. He elaborated: “I love a holiday as much as the next man and I couldn’t wait to have an extra week’s holiday, there’s no way I’m staying in a house with two hyperactive little boys.”

He revealed his family are considering relocating to a country in Eastern Europe or Central Asia. He added: “If we were to set roots down, the tax situation, there’s a lot of countries that people don’t talk about much, [like] Paraguay, Andorra, Cyprus, yeah, people often talk about Cyprus.

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“Albania is quite attractive, Poland, Japan has an incentive for you for residing there tax free and the wife’s favourite place is Japan. What a place to live with your kids, it would be fantastic.”

Jeremy told viewers he had a family holiday arranged and was concerned he “wouldn’t be able to catch a plane” because of the conflict. He said: “They said, ‘No, you either come or push it to another time of year’, which was not really a convenient time for us.”

The businessman explained his mum is also having to relocate from the UAE. He said it’s “not the best place” because she is deaf so couldn’t hear the explosions. He does, however, maintain an optimistic view for Dubai, believing many people will come back once the conflict subsides. He compared the current situation to the 2008 financial crisis, when there was a “mini exodus” of residents departing.

However, he maintains “everything will get back to normal at some point” with many people ultimately returning. Earlier this week, Trump claimed there had been “very good and productive conversations” about ending the war in the Middle East. Tehran refuted the allegations, with one military official stating the Americans had been “negotiating with themselves”. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi even dismissed the concept of peace talks, rejecting Trump’s 15-point plan.

He stated: “Trump’s words are lies and should not be paid attention to.” The politician informed state media that “different ideas” had been presented to the nation’s leadership. In other news, two individuals were reportedly killed in Abu Dhabi after being struck by debris falling from a missile post-interception. Three additional people were injured during the incident, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.

The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all non-essential travel to the United Arab Emirates. It said: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption. Stay away from areas around security or military facilities and US or Israeli facilities and institutions. Iran continues to strike civilian infrastructure across the region such as ports, hotels, roads, bridges, energy facilities, financial institutions, oil production sites, water systems, and airports.”

If you do have to travel to the UAE, it recomends travelling during daylight hours. It added: “Always let friends or family know where you are and when you are travelling, and keep your mobile phone with you and charged. If you are away from your home or hotel, and an attack occurs or you receive an alert from the official UAE warning system, seek shelter in the closest building immediately.”

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More than 10,000 issues have been reported on Downdetector as of 7.15am, with the main problems being the X app and the timeline/feed, according to users.

One person, posting on Downdetector, said: “I thought something happened to my account lol as I could see people’s posts but then when I clicked on the posts it says nothing to show here yet.”

Another added: “Here we go again!”

A third person commented: “My morning doomscrolling!!”

User reports indicate problems with X (Twitter) since 3:25 AM EDT.
How is it affecting you? #XTwitterDownhttps://t.co/aJ8hcYM3ot

— DowndetectorUK (@DowndetectorUK) March 26, 2026

What is Downdetector?

Downdetector is an online website that allows users of popular services including X ( Twitter ), Instagram, Facebook, Virgin Media and more to report if they are having trouble with the services.

The site only reports an incident when the number of problem reports is significantly higher than the typical volume for that time of day.

Describing itself on its website, Downdetector is “where people go when services don’t work.”

The website monitors disruptions to various key services including the internet, web hosting platforms, banks, social media and more.

You can see the full methodology and learn more about how Downdetector collects status information and detects problems via its website.

In short, users can get involved by submitting any issue reports on the platform.

Problem indicators are also collected from social media and other factors on the web, Downdetector explained.

These reports are then validated and analysed in real-time.

An incident is then detected if the number of reports is significantly higher than the typical average for that particular service.

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According to a UEFA report published in February, Spurs posted a pre-tax loss of £129m last year, the third-largest in Europe. Under EFL rules, which would apply to Spurs if they are relegated, Championship clubs are permitted to lose a maximum of £39m over a rolling three-year period. Some belt-tightening would be required.